1981 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl
game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium
in Pasadena, California
. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines
beating Washington Huskies
by a score of 23–6. The game marked the first time Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler
won a bowl game after seven prior bowl game losses.
Despite the identical records, Michigan was favored, due largely to the impressive play of its defense. The Michigan defense did not allow a touchdown in the last 18 quarters of the regular season and gave up only 10 first-quarter points and three touchdown passes all year. The streak included a shutout of a Purdue team led by quarterback Mark Herrmann
and a victory over Ohio State in which the Buckeye offense led by Art Schlichter
was held to three points. Washington Coach Don James noted, "Michigan is playing defense so much better than anybody else in the country right now." Michigan's defense was led by co-captain and linebacker, Andy Cannavino
, who led the team with 160 tackles (54 more than any other player on the team) to become the second leading all-time tackler in the school's history. The defense also featured linebacker, Mel Owens
, tackle, Mike Trgovac
, and safety Keith Bostic.
On offense, Michigan had All-American wide receiver, Anthony Carter, who broke the school's career record for touchdowns as a sophomore. Prior to the 1981 Rose Bowl, Schembechler called Carter "the most gifted athlete I've ever been around." Michigan also featured an offensive line that included All-American George Lilja
and future NFL players, Ed Muransky
, Kurt Becker
, and Bubba Paris
.
Washington was led by senior quarterback and Pac 10 Player of the Year, Tom Flick
, who had passed for 2,178 yards in 1980. Washington also had a superb placekicker, Chuck Nelson
, who led the team in scoring with 85 points on 31 extra points and 18 field goals. Don James noted that the biggest difference between the two teams was Washington's reliance on the passing game, and Michigan's reliance on the run.
was the focus of much of the pre-game press coverage. Schembechler had gone winless in seven prior bowl games (five Rose Bowls, one Orange Bowl, and one Gator Bowl). Bo's record led to jokes by the media, including one Gannett reporter who opened his pre-game story by noting: "It's bowl time, so they're playing Michigan's song again. You know, Taps." And a UPI story opened with this line: "Why doesn't Bo Schembechler eat cereal for breakfast? He's afraid he'd lose the bowl."
Michigan's players noted their desire to win the 1981 Rose Bowl for their coach. All-American center George Lilja
noted, "We want to win for our coach as much as for ourselves." Michigan's co-captain, Andy Cannavino joked, "If we win, maybe it'll look good on our resume when we go in to apply for a regular job. Maybe the boss will be sympathetic to the fact that we got Bo Schembechler his first Rose Bowl." The press also noted that, even though Michigan's players wanted "desperately" to win for their coach, Schembechler himself "seems as laid back as a native Californian." Schembechler refused to predict a victory but said, "The pressure is on us to win, but I guarantee you, our players will play their hearts out."
with a 73-yard punt.
In the second quarter, Washington's placekicker Chuck Nelson
kicked a 35-yard field goal, but Michigan then took the lead with a six-yard touchdown run by Butch Woolfolk
. Nelson added a 26-yard field goal, and the half ended with Michigan leading 7-6.
Michigan drove the ball 83-yard to start the second half, scoring on a 25-yard field goal from placekicker Ali Haji-Sheikh
. After the game, Schembechler said the opening drive of the second half was the "turning point." He noted, "To take the kick and drive down the field on them, I think might have taken something out of them."
In the third quarter, Michigan's quarterback John Wangler
completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to All-American wide receiver Anthony Carter, and Michigan led 17-6. Michigan added another touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Stan Edwards
. The Michigan defense shut down the Washington offense in the second half, not allowing the Huskies to score. The Wolverines outgained the Huskies 304 yards to 105 in the second half.
Butch Woolfolk
was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1981 Rose Bowl after rushing for 182 yards in 26 carries. Stan Edwards added 68 rushing yards, and Anthony Carter compiled 101 yards of total offense (33 rushing, 68 receiving).
Despite allowing Washington to gain 374 total yards of offense in the game (including 282 yards passing by Flick), Michigan extended its streak to 22 quarters without giving up a touchdown.
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines
1980 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bo Schembechler, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a record of 10–2 and defeated the Washington Huskies in the 1981 Rose Bowl game, 23–6...
beating Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
by a score of 23–6. The game marked the first time Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
won a bowl game after seven prior bowl game losses.
The matchup
The 1981 Rose Bowl matched the Big 10 and Pac 10 Conference champions. Both teams, Michigan from the Big Ten, and Washington from the Pac 10, came into the game with identical 9-2 regular season records. Michigan had lost games against Notre Dame and South Carolina, and Washington had lost to Oregon State and Navy. Washington came into the game having won the Pac 10 title with a 20-10 upset victory over USC.Despite the identical records, Michigan was favored, due largely to the impressive play of its defense. The Michigan defense did not allow a touchdown in the last 18 quarters of the regular season and gave up only 10 first-quarter points and three touchdown passes all year. The streak included a shutout of a Purdue team led by quarterback Mark Herrmann
Mark Herrmann
Mark James Herrmann is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the NFL. He was Associate Director of Educational Programs for the NCAA, before budget cutbacks. However, he is best known for his college career with the Purdue Boilermakers...
and a victory over Ohio State in which the Buckeye offense led by Art Schlichter
Art Schlichter
Arthur Ernest Schlichter is a retired college and professional American football quarterback, sometimes known for his compulsive gambling and the legal problems especially gambling that arose from it...
was held to three points. Washington Coach Don James noted, "Michigan is playing defense so much better than anybody else in the country right now." Michigan's defense was led by co-captain and linebacker, Andy Cannavino
Andy Cannavino
Andrew J. "Andy" Cannavino is a retired American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980...
, who led the team with 160 tackles (54 more than any other player on the team) to become the second leading all-time tackler in the school's history. The defense also featured linebacker, Mel Owens
Mel Owens
Mel Owens is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. Owens was selected in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams out of the University of Michigan in the 1981 NFL Draft...
, tackle, Mike Trgovac
Mike Trgovac
Michael Trgovac is the defensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers and the former defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers...
, and safety Keith Bostic.
On offense, Michigan had All-American wide receiver, Anthony Carter, who broke the school's career record for touchdowns as a sophomore. Prior to the 1981 Rose Bowl, Schembechler called Carter "the most gifted athlete I've ever been around." Michigan also featured an offensive line that included All-American George Lilja
George Lilja
George Vincent Lilja is a former professional American football offensive lineman who played for several National Football League teams over the course of six seasons. He is also a former collegiate All-American center for the Michigan Wolverines football team...
and future NFL players, Ed Muransky
Ed Muransky
Edward William "Ed" Muransky is a former professional American football offensive tackle who played for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League and Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League . He was a member of the Super Bowl XVIII Champion Raiders...
, Kurt Becker
Kurt Becker
Kurt Frank Becker is a former professional American football player who played guard for nine seasons for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams. An offensive guard at the University of Michigan, Becker started in 36 consecutive games...
, and Bubba Paris
Bubba Paris
William "Bubba" Paris is a former professional American football offensive lineman who played for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL from 1983 to 1990. He was a member of three 49er teams that won the Super Bowl...
.
Washington was led by senior quarterback and Pac 10 Player of the Year, Tom Flick
Tom Flick
Thomas Lyle Flick is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League who was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 4th round of the 1981 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 190 lbs. quarterback from the University of Washington, Flick played in seven NFL seasons from 1981-1987...
, who had passed for 2,178 yards in 1980. Washington also had a superb placekicker, Chuck Nelson
Chuck Nelson
Charles LaVerne Nelson is a former professional American football placekicker for five seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Washington...
, who led the team in scoring with 85 points on 31 extra points and 18 field goals. Don James noted that the biggest difference between the two teams was Washington's reliance on the passing game, and Michigan's reliance on the run.
Pre-game focus on Schembechler's bowl record
Michigan's long-time coach Bo SchembechlerBo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
was the focus of much of the pre-game press coverage. Schembechler had gone winless in seven prior bowl games (five Rose Bowls, one Orange Bowl, and one Gator Bowl). Bo's record led to jokes by the media, including one Gannett reporter who opened his pre-game story by noting: "It's bowl time, so they're playing Michigan's song again. You know, Taps." And a UPI story opened with this line: "Why doesn't Bo Schembechler eat cereal for breakfast? He's afraid he'd lose the bowl."
Michigan's players noted their desire to win the 1981 Rose Bowl for their coach. All-American center George Lilja
George Lilja
George Vincent Lilja is a former professional American football offensive lineman who played for several National Football League teams over the course of six seasons. He is also a former collegiate All-American center for the Michigan Wolverines football team...
noted, "We want to win for our coach as much as for ourselves." Michigan's co-captain, Andy Cannavino joked, "If we win, maybe it'll look good on our resume when we go in to apply for a regular job. Maybe the boss will be sympathetic to the fact that we got Bo Schembechler his first Rose Bowl." The press also noted that, even though Michigan's players wanted "desperately" to win for their coach, Schembechler himself "seems as laid back as a native Californian." Schembechler refused to predict a victory but said, "The pressure is on us to win, but I guarantee you, our players will play their hearts out."
Game summary
Early in the game, Washington reached the Michigan one-yard line, but the Michigan defense stopped Washington's Toussiant Tyler on fourth down. One official initially signaled a touchdown, but changed the call after the other official reported "he clearly saw the ball was not in." The first quarter ended with no score, and the highlights of the first quarter were Michigan's goal-line stand and a Rose Bowl record set by Michigan's Don BrackenDon Bracken
Don Bracken is a former professional American football punter playing for eight seasons for the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League....
with a 73-yard punt.
In the second quarter, Washington's placekicker Chuck Nelson
Chuck Nelson
Charles LaVerne Nelson is a former professional American football placekicker for five seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Washington...
kicked a 35-yard field goal, but Michigan then took the lead with a six-yard touchdown run by Butch Woolfolk
Butch Woolfolk
Harold E. "Butch" Woolfolk is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in college for the University of Michigan and in the National Football League for the New York Giants , Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions . Woolfolk attended Westfield Senior High School in...
. Nelson added a 26-yard field goal, and the half ended with Michigan leading 7-6.
Michigan drove the ball 83-yard to start the second half, scoring on a 25-yard field goal from placekicker Ali Haji-Sheikh
Ali Haji-Sheikh
Ali S. Haji-Sheikh is a former American football placekicker for the University of Michigan and for three National Football League teams. Haji-Sheikh spent three seasons playing for the New York Giants. He had a superb rookie season, kicking 35 of 42 field goals and setting a then NFL record...
. After the game, Schembechler said the opening drive of the second half was the "turning point." He noted, "To take the kick and drive down the field on them, I think might have taken something out of them."
In the third quarter, Michigan's quarterback John Wangler
John Wangler
John "Johnny" Wangler is a former American football quarterback. He played for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. During the 1979 and 1980 seasons, Wangler and Anthony Carter formed one of the most successful passing combinations in Michigan Wolverines football history...
completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to All-American wide receiver Anthony Carter, and Michigan led 17-6. Michigan added another touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Stan Edwards
Stan Edwards
Stanley Edwards is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played six total seasons in the league, five for the Houston Oilers and one for his hometown Detroit Lions...
. The Michigan defense shut down the Washington offense in the second half, not allowing the Huskies to score. The Wolverines outgained the Huskies 304 yards to 105 in the second half.
Butch Woolfolk
Butch Woolfolk
Harold E. "Butch" Woolfolk is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in college for the University of Michigan and in the National Football League for the New York Giants , Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions . Woolfolk attended Westfield Senior High School in...
was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1981 Rose Bowl after rushing for 182 yards in 26 carries. Stan Edwards added 68 rushing yards, and Anthony Carter compiled 101 yards of total offense (33 rushing, 68 receiving).
Despite allowing Washington to gain 374 total yards of offense in the game (including 282 yards passing by Flick), Michigan extended its streak to 22 quarters without giving up a touchdown.
Second Quarter
- Wash – Nelson, 35-yard field goal
- Mich – Woolfolk, 6-yard run (Haji-Sheikh kick good)
- Wash – Nelson, 26-yard field goal
Third Quarter
- Mich – Haji-Sheikh, 25-yard field goal
- Mich – Carter, 7-yard pass from WanglerJohn WanglerJohn "Johnny" Wangler is a former American football quarterback. He played for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. During the 1979 and 1980 seasons, Wangler and Anthony Carter formed one of the most successful passing combinations in Michigan Wolverines football history...
(Haji-Sheikh kick good)